Stringed musical instrument.



Patented Feb; I3, 1900.

A. GUNKEL.

'STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT (Application filed Sept. 30, 1898. 3

(No Model lizzper 07"; /M/Z i I (aw E" TO-UTHO" WASHINGTON m c UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADOLF GUNKEL, OF BLASEWITZ, GERMANY.

STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 643,125, dated February13, 1900.

Application filed September 30, 1898. Serial No. 692,268. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ADOLF GUNKEL, chamber-musician, asubject of the Kingof Saxony, and a resident of Blasewitz, near Dresden, in the Empire ofGermany, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stringed MusicalInstruments, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to stringed musical instruments, and has for itsobject a key or scale mask or frame for the purpose of enabling abeginner, when learning to play a stringedinstrumentsuch as a violin,Violoncello, or similar instrumentto become accustomed from the outsetto the correct position of the left arm and hand, and to insure,especially when practicing scales, such an execution of the fingering asto attain a musically correct tone, so that while learning the manualexecution the critical judging capacity of the ear is exercised.

According to my invention I arrange above the strings of the instrument,in close proximity thereto, a readily-removable bent plate or framewhich I term a mask. This mask or frame, which is made of thin rigidmaterialsuch as sheet metal, wood, hardened rubber, celluloid, or othersuitable substance-is provided with frets or bridges and free spaces forthe fingering, according to the key in which the performer requires toplay. A different mask is required for each key, and each mask has thekey for which it is adapted marked thereon.

In order to insure a correct position of the left hand relatively to thefinger-board, means are provided for retaining the left hand thumb in agiven position, while the open spaces in the mask or frame oblige thelearner to exert finger-pressure only at those points where the shape ofthe said spaces leaves an opening for each string of the instrument,respectively, according to the key, thus insuring a result that has not,so far as I am aware, been hitherto attained by any known auxiliarymeans.

In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readilycarried into effect, I will proceed to describe the same more fully withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows theneck or finger-board of a violin with a key, mask, or frame attachedthereto. Figs. 2 and 3 are a plan and a side view, respectively, of thecarrier or support to which the said mask is fixed. Figs. 4 and 5 are aplan and a side View, respectively, of a mask for a different key tothat shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 6 and 7 are cross-sectional views of themask shown in Fig. 4, and Fig. 8 is an end View of the carrier orsupport.

a a are the side pieces of the carrier or support and are arranged oneat each side of the neck of the instrument.

0 is a bridge-piece connecting the pieces a a together at the top end oftheneck and pass ing over the strings of the instrument. This bridge ais provided with a pin e and a springcatch t'.

c is a bridge-piece connecting the opposite extremities of the pieces aor together and also passing over the strings of the instrument. Thisbridge 0 is provided with a hooked pin e.

b is a clasp which slides upon the side pieces Ct a and passes beneaththe neck of the instrument.

f is a spring attached to the clasp b and bearingagainst the neck of theinstrument to retain the carrier or support in position.

01 is the thumb-holder attached to the carrier and adapted to receivethe thumb of the left hand in order to prevent the accidentaldisplacement of the said hand upon the fin- I ger-board or neck of theinstrument.

It is the key or scale mask or frame, provided with the perforations ZZ.

The carrier or support is first applied to the neck of the instrument,and the key mask or frame is then attached thereto by first passing theperforation Z over the hooked pin 6 and then passing the perforation Zover the pine, the top or narrow end of the mask being retained by thespring-catch 't' and its lower end being retained by the hooked pin e inthe position shown in Fig. 1.

As already stated, a separate mask, having its bridges and spacesdifferently arranged, is required for each key. The mask or frame shownin Fig. 1 is for Gmajor and that shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is G major.

Although described in connection with a violin, it is obvious that myinvention may be readily adapted to other stringed instruments.

That I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

1. A key-mask for attachment to the fingerboard of a stringed musicalinstrument each string of which is capable of producing a variety oftones, said mask being provided With openings through whichfinger-pressure may be applied to the strings, and with means forpreventing such finger-pressure on the strings at other pointslongitudinally of the fingerboard, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a carrier adapted to be attached to thefinger-board of a stringed musical instrument each string of which iscapable of producing a variety of tones, a mask provided with openingsthrough which finger-pressure may be applied to the strings, and withmeans for preventing such fingerpressure on the strings at other pointslongitudinally of the finger-board, and means for fastening the mask tothe carrier, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a key-mask for attachment to the finger-board of astringed musical instrument each string of which is capable of producinga variety of tones, said mask being provided with openings through whichfinger-pressure may be applied to the strings, and with means forpreventing such finger-pressure on the strings at other pointslongitudinally of the finger -board, and a thumb-piece for attachment tothe fingerboard at or near the opening in the key-mask, substantially asdescribed.

4. The combination of a carrier adapted to be attached to thefinger-board of a stringed musical instrument each string of which iscapable of producing a variety of tones, a plurality of interchangeablekey-masks each corresponding to a particular key and adapted to beremovablyattached to the mask-carrier, each of said key-masks'beingprovided with openings through which finger-pressure may be applied tothe strings, and with means for preventing such finger pressure at otherpoints longitudinally of the finger-board, and a thumb-piece fastened tothe mask-carrier at or near the opening in the key-mask, substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ADOLF' GUNKEL.

\Vitnesses:

HERNANDO DE So'ro, PAUL AREAS.

